A triage nurse in a busy emergency department assesses a patient who complains of 6/10 abdominal pain and states, "I had a temperature of 104.6º F ( 40.3º C ) at home." The nurse's first action should be to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's pain and statement about an elevated temperature indicate that the nurse should obtain vital signs before deciding how rapidly the patient should be seen by the health care provider. A urinalysis may be needed, but vital signs will provide the nurse with the data needed to determine this. The health care provider will not order a medication before assessing the patient.

A Triage Nurse in a Busy Emergency Department Assesses a Patient